Ocasio to headline Philly card; Bosques off card

Richard Quiñones (Journeymen Boxing) Philly lightweight Angel Luis Ocasio will take on Renaldo Blanco over 10 rounds to decide the vacant NABA lightweight, Friday January 22nd at the Sheet Metal Works Hall in South Philly.

Ocasio (8-0-2, 2ko’s) made his return to the ring after a three-year layoff back in October, when he defeated Bryne Green in a six-round affair. Prior to that, his last notable fights were back in 2012 when he earned back-to-back majority draws against current rising prospect Jason Sosa. After the Sosa bout, the then prospect out of Philadelphia, stopped Esteban Rodriguez in two rounds.

He then took time off and stepped away from the ring. At the time, he cited religion and his personal life to reasons why he needed a hiatus.

“I took the time off and found the lord and got married,” the 26 year-old Ocasio.

“It was a much needed time off. It helped me realize that there are more important things then to just be a boxer. I know there that there other things as boxing is just temporarily. If boxing wasn’t here, I would still be the same guy.”

Ocasio turned pro in 2009, and will certainly need to stay active in 2016, to remain relevant at 140lbs. on the local circuit.

Blanco (9-2, 4ko’s) has won two straight and seven of his last eight. The 28-year-old from Carolina, Puerto Rico has never been tested in his career since turning pro in 2012.

In other slated action, talented lightweight Jonathan Maicelo (22-2, 12ko’s) will battle an opponent to be named later over eight rounds. The 32-year-old native of North Bergen by way of Callao, Peru, holds several Latin belts, including the Latin American lightweight title, as well as earning a silver medal at the Bolivarian Games and at the Pre-Panamerican Tournament.

Super welterweight Hakim Bryant (5-0, 4ko’s) will see action against an opponent to be named later. The 26-year-old Asbury Park, NJ., native has knockout power and this will be his first six-round test.

Saud Clark (5-1-1, 4ko’s) will also step into the ring in a four-round welterweight clash, while Idemar Cordero will make his pro debut. against John Turner (1-1, 1ko).

Light heavyweight David Murray (2-1, 2ko’s) dances with a winless Yoeglys Duverger (0-3), while super lightweight Yordan Frometa (4-0, 3ko’s) takes on an opponent to be named later.

In what was going to be a featured female bout, super flyweight and ranked contender Noemi Bosques (10-4-2, 2ko’s) was slated to take on an opponent to be named. Bosques, who is considered one of the top females boxers in the country, was coming off a tough setback to Heather Hardy back in December.

She is currently ranked No. 14 by the WIBA and recognized as its International Champion.

However, she will not have to wait long to get back into the ring, as of Tuesday, it was announced she slated to take on Mariana Juarez February 6th, in Mexico.

JMB has also learned that the bout will be for Juarez’ WBC title.

Her December loss to Hardy, was a rematch of an eight-round split-decision won by the New York native in May of 2015.

The native of St. Petersburg, Florida, Bosques fought Hardy again in a higher weight class, and that bout was not as close as the fight one.